Cat products drive Christmas pet spending, Pets at Home finds

Spending on Christmas products for cats has risen sharply this year, outpacing other pets as shoppers increasingly treat animals as part of the family, according to new figures from Pets at Home.

The retailer said overall festive spending on pets was up 4% year on year, but sales of cat-related Christmas products rose by 26% over the same period. 

By comparison, spending on dog Christmas products increased by 2%.

Small animals also saw a surge in festive spending, with sales of accessories up 40%, as owners extended Christmas gifting across a wider range of pets.

Additionally, in-store shopping continued to dominate festive pet purchases, with 88% of customers buying Christmas treats and toys in stores rather than online. The retailer said many shoppers were bringing pets with them to help choose gifts.

Advent calendars remained a popular purchase, with 18% more pets receiving one this year. 

Cat advent calendars recorded a 31% increase in sales, compared with a 16% rise for dogs. 

The research also revealed that 3.1 million households planned to spend more on gifts for their pets than on any other family member this Christmas.

Regional data showed higher spending in the North of England, where shoppers spent 16% more on festive pet products than those in the South and 2% more than in central parts of the UK.

Pets at Home said the most popular dog toy this Christmas was Timmy the Turkey, replacing last year’s Honking Sprout, while the top-selling cat toy was Christmas Scrunchy Crunchies, continuing a trend seen in 2024.

The data covers the period from 1 November to 11 December 2025 and compares sales with the same period last year.

Anja Madsen, chief operating officer at Pets at Home, said: “This Christmas, we’re seeing more people than ever heading into stores to choose something special for their pets, and it’s clear that cats are coming out on top. Shoppers really value being able to browse festive treats and toys in person, experiencing the joy of Christmas shopping and picking something they know their pets will love. 

“Cat owners in particular this year are spending more on their pets, from toys to advent calendars, reflecting just how much all species of pets are part of the family. More so than ever, pets are being included in the festive fun and we love being able to share that experience with customers when they come into our petcare centres.”